Whether in land, sea, or air, America’s military prowess covers the globe. Its economic power fuels world trade and industry. And its political and cultural appeal, what Joseph Nye calls “soft power,” influences international institutions. No other country has the same combination of reach and influence.
Yet the United States’ unquestioned strength can create resentment, even among America’s friends. Its perceived arrogance, its embrace of predatory capitalism and the death penalty, its cultural disdain for Europe’s traditions, have fueled growing anti-Americanism.
The path nations chart on the global stage can profoundly affect allied and enemy behavior. That makes it acutely important for the United States to understand how its actions are seen by its adversaries.
Those insights have shaped the nation’s foreign policy for more than half a century. In 1947, President Truman pressed for an all-out policy of containment against worldwide communism, based on the idea that a domino theory — as then-Secretary of State Dean Acheson coined it — would eventually lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union and global peace.
Today, more than 190 countries are part of the United States’ diplomatic relations and the vast majority of them are members of international organizations. As technology, travel, and trade advance, the United States must maintain its capacity to shape the world order. This requires addressing international security and development challenges while advancing American values. It also demands maintaining close ties with our allies, especially in Asia and Latin America, where democracy is taking hold. And it demands addressing the rising threat of terrorism and other terrorist attacks, as well as environmental crises like climate change.